American Legion Post Eyes Chapel Court Land for Parking Lot Expansion-September 9, 1971

Discussions advanced regarding the prospective sale or lease of a municipal tax-title land parcel to support local veterans’ parking needs.

Tax-Title Land Negotiations and Legal Review

Representing the local American Legion post, Joseph Flynn informed selectmen that the organization was highly interested in acquiring approximately 2,000 square feet of tax-title land situated off Chapel Court to convert into a dedicated parking lot. However, Flynn noted that the organization required official data regarding the parcel’s assessed valuation before a final purchase price could be agreed upon.

Town Manager Walter A. Blasenak was directed by the board to investigate and determine the exact assessed valuation of the land strip abutting the Legion property. Under municipal statute, the town is authorized to sell tax-title property for the exact amount of back taxes owed—which stood at $569 accumulated over a 32-year period. However, if the final agreed-upon purchase price fell below the total tax debt, formal town meeting approval would be required.

To expedite the initiative while financial appraisals were being finalized, selectmen tentatively explored a lease agreement allowing the Legion to utilize the property through the end of the year. Town Counsel Walter J. Gotovich was asked to review the proposed lease and draft protective legal language covering both the town and the Legion in the event the land price was negotiated below the outstanding tax liability. Further discussions involving town officials, Legion representatives, and the town counsel were scheduled for the subsequent week’s session.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger